Notes: Pastor Dave - May 3rd 2026

2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed [transformed] into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

God has no other plan than complete ‘change’ — there’s no neutral middle: only ‘Yes’ or ‘No’

your complaint to God or others: “But I just can’t change!” falls on deaf ears!

Mat 6:24; De 30:19; Josh 24:15; 1 Ki 18:21; Ruth 1:15-16; Rev 3:20

CSL: There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done” 

and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” (TGD)

Jesus was very clear what it means when you to say to God: “Thy will be done” — 

Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

AMPC: You…must be perfect [growing to complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, 

having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.

this is change not just in outward behavior — but the core who & what you are

fully conformed to the Father’s will — down to the very thoughts you think (Rom 12:2 ampc)

this means war against all your fortified thinking (Small Catechism, Lord’s Prayer, 3rd Petition)

The Annotated Luther, Volume 2: Word and Faith The Third Petition

“no one can believe how the devil opposes and obstructs their fulfillment” …

The Annotated Luther, Volume 2: Word and Faith The Third Petition

It pains the devil beyond measure when its lies and abominations, honored under the most specious pretexts of God’s name, are disclosed and exposed in all their shame, when they are driven out of people’s hearts and a breach is made in its kingdom. Therefore, like a furious foe, the devil raves and rages with all its power and might, marshaling all its subjects and even enlisting the world and our own flesh as its allies.

The Annotated Luther, Volume 2: Word and Faith The Third Petition

This is the devil’s only purpose, desire, and thought, and for this end it strives without rest day and night, using all the arts, tricks, methods, and approaches that it can devise.

Therefore we who would be Christians must surely expect to have the devil with all its angels and the world as our enemies and must expect that they will inflict every possible misfortune and grief on us. For where God’s word is preached, accepted, or believed, and bears fruit, there the holy and precious cross215 will also not be far behind. And let no one think that we will have peace; rather, we must sacrifice all we have on earth—possessions, honor, house and farm, spouse and children, body and life. Now, this grieves our flesh and the old creature, for it means that we must remain steadfast, suffer patiently whatever befalls us, and let go whatever is taken from us.216,217

Jesus isn’t saying what you must do — He is announcing what His Father is doing & will do

God doesn’t care for what you like or don’t like — He has only one thing in mind: Phil 2:5

GM: (conversation with an anxious soul)

Roy Harrisville - I take my life, my whole life, from the Word of God.

CS Lewis - Magician’s Nephew - “And you wouldn’t have favorites either among your own children or among the other creatures, or let any hold another under or use it hardly?” “I never could abide such goings on, sir, and that’s the truth. I’d give ’em what for if I caught ’em at it,” said the Cabby.

CSL: When He said, ‘Be perfect,’ He meant it. He meant that we must go in for the full treatment…This is the whole of Christianity. There is nothing else. It is so easy to get muddled about that. It is easy to think that the Church has a lot of different objects—education, building, missions, holding services…the Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs…God became Man for no other purpose. MC

but can’t we refuse Him? — you already have! that’s what He’s come into you to destroy! Rom 13:11-12

He will bring to light the real reason you would continue to refuse Him: Lk 8:17; Eph 5:13-14 ampc

GM #58 The Rich Young Man 

“Aslan's ways give lasting and deep joy through (and following) temporary hardship, while the witch's ways give long-lasting hardships that result from short-lived and shallow pleasures.” (97)

D. Wilson: But all efforts to transform yourself with nothing but your own willpower are doomed 

to be superficial failures.  (continue from last para. p.141 to 142, WILIN) (Adding Sin to sin)

“when people try to be in charge of their own repentance, they can never go far enough. They never get past their own pain tolerance.” …”only God can deal with the root of the problem. God's way is much more painful, but it leads to a truly transformed life. Our way is much more comfortable in the short run, but it leads to agony and sorrow down the road.” And then despair when you don’t see an immediate change? …”This transformation, however, is not like flipping a switch. Eustace did not immediately become a completely different boy. To be strictly accurate, he began to be a different boy. He had relapses.” …”God does not change sinners immediately into sinless beings; he sets us on the path to sanctification that will occupy us for the rest of our lives.”

Dying Unto Life: Arthur C. McGill on New God, New Death, New Life Chapter 2: The Positive Meaning of Need

…

King James Version Chapter 7

Jn 7:16

Dying Unto Life: Arthur C. McGill on New God, New Death, New Life Chapter 2: The Positive Meaning of Need

“…only God can deal with the root of the problem” — your own efforts will always be about saving self

“How do I change? I’ve tried!” — if this is a real cry from the heart (not ‘theater’) you will be answered

first, He brings you to genuine despair of your own wisdom, thinking, ability — H.D. Thesis 18

when this despair is truthful, there will be a genuine crying out — Ps 107

God gives bread to the hungry, water to the thirsty, faith to the penitent — Mat 5:6; Lk 18:7-8

D. Wilson calls it “thorough grace” — which is for “good kids” & “record stinkers” (135, WILIN) 

GM #84 God at the Door 

→ Shift from law to grace through faith. Romans 3:21 “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested…”

→ Freedom from sin leads to a new life. Romans 6:22 “But now being made free from sin… ye have your fruit unto holiness.”

→ Serving God in a new way, not old obligation. Romans 7:6 “But now we are delivered from the law…”

“There is therefore now no condemnation…” → Life in Christ changes your standing completely. Romans 8:1 (Closely tied idea)

→ From distance to closeness with God. Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”

→ Identity transformation. Ephesians 5:8 “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord…”

→ From enemies to reconciled and holy. Colossians 1:21–22 “And you… yet now hath he reconciled…”

→ Practical change in behavior. Colossians 3:8 “But now ye also put off all these…”

→ Personal testimony of transformation. John 9:25 “Whereas I was blind, now I see.”

→ Present vs. future clarity. 1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face…”

→ Christ’s decisive work. Hebrews 9:26 “But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin…”